PIGEONS FROM THE THAMES.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1605, 6 April 1875, Page 3

PIGEONS FROM THE THAMES.

THE ELECTION.

RETURN OF MR. DAVIES

DISPUTE BETWEEN MESSRS ROWE AND ANTHONY.

By pigeon from tha Thames this morning, we have slips of the Thames Advertiser of this morning, giving the following details of nevs:— The polling for a member to represent the Thames in the Provincial Council took place yesterday, and resulted in the return of Mr. W. IJavies, the Mayor of the Borough, by a majority of 59 over Mr. W. Rowe, after a keen contest.

Mr. Rowe went to Ohinemuri on Friday, and addressed the electors at Mackaytown and Paeroa. The Takapuna was engaged to bring down voters, and on Saturday night 105 came down, most, if not all, of whom went for Mr. Rowe. Measures were also taken to bring down from Auckland those who were on the roll here.

The arrangements for the polling were pretty much the same as at former elections. From an early hour in the morning it was obvious that the election would be very keenly contested, as both sides were working hard to bring in voters. With the ballot only a guess can be made as to how the voting is going on, but it was pretty obvious that in morning a majority of the votes were going for Mr Howe. The Ohinemuri men polled early. About the middle of the day the conviction was general that Mr Rowe would win, and bets at 2 to 1 could have been obtained. The other side, however, showed no disposition to "funk j" they worked hard up to the last, and were rewarded for their perseverance by victory. If the poll had closed at one o'clock, Mr. Rowe would have been elected. Mr. Da vies himself went into Grahamstown to stir up the flagging voters, and did good work. Several works and mines where Mr. Davies and his supporters had potent influence, knocked off at three o'clock. Still the event was dubious, and although some of the friends of the candidates pretended to be confident, there could be no assurance when such a number had polled.

Each of the candidates had committeerooms opposite Butt's hotel, and a great deal of business was done there during the day. There was a large crowd at the old corner during the day, a good few of whom were considerably elevated before midday, A great deal of chaffing and fun took place, but there was no disturbance during the continuance of the polling. Every 'bus and carriage in town was engaged on one side or another, and some of them were decorated with placards containing what were thought to be "hits" at the opposite candidate or his most prominent supporters. On one coach was displayed a piece of calico on two sticks with the words " Vote for Davies, and keep out of the hands of Mcllhone and Brodie." This display, however, came under the designation of a banner, and would have been seized and taken down by the police, but that one of the opposite party did that for them. It was subsequently stuck on the side of the carriage. The other side, got up a counter demonstration to this, namely, " Vote for Bo we, and keep out of the hands of Speight, Bagnall, and the Kahikatea Swindle." The Maori voters usually vote.in a block, and on this occasion they went for Mr. Davies. ,'••...■

At four o'clock exactly the doors were shut, and the returning officers proceeded to take the ballot papers out of the box. The keenness of the contest is shown by tbe fact that 1,115 votes were polled, while at Jthe Superintendency election, when great exertions were made, 1,297 voted. In the last Provincial Council election, when there were a number of candidates in the field, and long preparation had been made for the contest, the first on the poll, Mr Brown, had 726 votes. We may mention that aome apprehension was felt that some deceased Maoris who were on the roll would appear again, or at least some natives claiming to vote in their name, but nothing of the kind: gccwwml-.~ a^ rsmf% i . vo t era _j Kfl£ «

made to 4ake the oath, tut there was no person taken into custody for personation, and probably there wers very few cases wherein personation took place. From the time the polling booths closed there was much more excitement than there had been during the day previously. Neither of the candidates nor their most sanguire friends felt confident as to the result, ar.d even money was freely offered and as freely accepted amongst the crowd up to the time the numbers were posted. There was along delay in adding up the numbers, which appeared to be extremely iiksome to those who were writing, but soon after 5 o'clock a board was posted above the entrance to the booths, which announced the numbeis to be as follows : — Davies SSO Rowe 521 Majority for Davies ... 59 The result was received by the friends of Mr Davies with loud cheering, to which there was at first no opposition demonstration. In fact Mr Kowe's supporters had made so sure of victory that tbe announcement appeared to take them quite by surprise. In the meantime Mr Davies, the successful candidate, came forward on the verandah, and mounting on the rail, he addressee 1 the crowd. He paid he thanked them sincerely for the position in which they had placed him, aud would endeavour to do his duty as their representative. He was not the nominee of any Auckland clique, as had been asserted. He Was the nominee of the Thames people, and would do his duly towards the Thames fearlessly and faithfully.— Mr Kowe also returned thanks. He referred to Mr Bagnall, Mr Speight, and MiAnthony. Two days after Mr fciwan dieH, Mr Anthony came to him aud asked him what he thought of his (Mr Anthony's) chance for the vacancy.

Mr. Anthony, who was in the crowd, said, addressing Mr Rowe, " That is the bigget-t falsehood that ever you uttered. I never said any such thing. Mr Sow insisted that it was true. He .said, in this conteßt he did not want to be otherwise than friends with every man. He did not wan? to pursue BUfli a line of conduct as would prevent him looking any man in the fac-e and being good iriends. Ho had had no man to help him in this contest, and he had not to go begging any man to pay his expenses. He had the' highest ebteom for Mr Davie3 and would assist him as much as possible ; but for many cf his supporters he had the utmost contempt; they were only fit to to be trampled beneath the feet of every honest man. Se trusted i hey would live to fight another day. (Cheers) tl jjMr Rowe then descended from the verandah and went to Mr Anthony. A warm dispute occurred between the two with regard to Mr Rowe's veracity. Many thought it would culminate in a fight, but it did not, and Mr Rowe was finally carried away on the shoulders of his supporters. Virtually this closed the contest ; but the feelings of some of the electors were so highly wrought up by spirituous and other excitement that numerous rows on the merits of the rival candidates afterwards occurred. For sometime Butt's Hotel appeared to be in a state of seige, free fights prevailing insiJe ; but the police effected an entry and soon dispersed those combative individuals who were open to reason, and the others were removed by their friends. The amount of excitement which prevailed towards the close must have aßtonif tied those who held to the that no public interest was felt in the result of this election.